Ovo je Balkan!

As I mentioned before, Erasmus time is also a perfect opportunity to gain some knowledge about local culture. I'd like to say that I am interested in Balkan culture and history of this region, especially from Yugoslavia's time, so I decide to take advantage of opportunities and travel around whole Balkans.

Dubrovnik gives us many possibilities. There are only 10 kilometers to border with Bosnia and Herzegovina and around 45 km to Montenegro. In one day there is no problem to visit Albania, even Greece. Yes, I did it! Below is the map with countries which I've visited.

Because Bosnia and Herzegovina is the closest country, I've visited Bosnian cities the most. Also the same case in Montenegro. Only one time, but it was the longest adventure which we have made, was Greece and 2800 kilometers in total! It was amazing experience. Two times I spend weekend in Skopje and Ohrid (Macedonia), one week in Serbia and few hours in Priština through the way.

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Coffee time!

Unbelievable. It's a middle of the day and practically every cafeteria in Dubrovnik is full of people! I have to admit, that at the beginning of my adventure  in Croatia, it suprised me. I was wondering  how is it possible, especially that they meet during work hours. Why they spend a lot of time in coffee stores?

In my country this kind of life is not popular. To be honest, during the week is really hard to find some time for meeting with friends. Coffee? Small one in the morning, and during the break for a lunch. That's a pity!

Final result

We took an example from Croats, and have started to meet with erasmus group for a coffee. That's true, that here we don't have a job, we have more free time, so It wasn't so hard. How is the result? We love it! It's a very simply thing, but it makes us so happy. Moreover, thanks to these meetings, our relationship is much better. During our coffee times we have planned many trips around Balkans, we shared our experience and have discussed many useful european educational programs.

Part of culture

I think that coffee time is a part of croatian culture and in whole Balkans as well. I've travelled a lot through former Yougoslavia countries and in each of them was the same thing - crowded cafeterias. And something which makes atmosphere, namely - cigarrete smoke!  This thing definitely connects those people. I'm sure that after my homecoming I will start to introduce coffee time with my friends during the day.

Erasmus? Polish language please...

One of the reason why is worth to go abroad to study is an opportunity to learn or to practise a foreign language. Mostly it is English, but it depends on the programme. In my case I decide to apply for LLP Erasmus to study in Dubrovnik. Except  educational profits, I took into account a possibility to improve my English and Croatian (which I've started to learn before) as well.

A very important part of Erasmus is social life with other students. You spend many hours together during every day. And to be honest, I expected that my erasmus experience will allow me to gain more knowledge about local - croatian culture, but also about other european countries. Still remember when I was sooo excited for the first meeting with my new collegues. When we met... I was sooo suprised that 70% of the group can speak Polish! What I mentioned? The new culture ;-)?

At the beginning was a little bit hard to switch to English, but with the passage of time it was becoming easier. Of course, largely it depended on us whether we want feel like an international student or like a Pole during the holidays at the Baltic sea. My experience confirmed the opinion which I have heard from my friends, that there are many of our countrymans on Erasmus Programme. In Dubrovnik we strongly dominated the group of students, and by this article I wanted to point out  the nature of our first impressions. Now we are Erasmus society and our mother languages are reserved only for conversation with  family.

If you don't believe, take a look at the graph below. It shows number of students from whole academic year.

Croatia? Dubrovnik? Why not!

Definitely one of the beautiful country in Europe. From July 2013, became as a member of European Union. Thanks of that, Croatia is gonna be very popular not only in a sector of turism, but also for study! Can you image  imagine the acquisition of knowledge surrounded by natural beauty, the sea and fully sun? Yes, I can!

Croatia is a country at the crossroads of Central Europe, Southeast Europe, and the Mediterranean. Geographical location makes this country as a paradise for the vacation. Every year here come more and more tourist. 

I mentioned that it would be nice to connect study time with a pleasure thanks to the place in which we will study. When I saw that is a possibility to go for Erasmus programme I was convinced which city I will choose.

Absolutely one of the best city which I have ever seen! To be honest Dubrovnik is not so big, but I can say openly that for me was it perfect opportunity to run away from such a big, totaly crowded, plunged in a rush Wroclaw.